Method and apparatus for marking articles



J. C. THOM.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES.-

APPLICATION FILED DEC-27, I920.

L 2. 91 1 E 9% 4 m A... m

J. C. THOM.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.27| I920- Patented Aug. 9, 1921..

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Rx fl M H A a M. m M A J. C. THOM.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MARKING ARTICLES.

APPLICATlON FILED DEC-27,1920.

1,386,81 l Patented Aug. 9, 11.921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a ATTORNEYS METHOD AND APPARATUS Fun MARKING ARTICLES 1;"

- APPLICATION FILED D5021. ifizo. 1,386,81 l

Patehted Au 9, 1921.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

inarking designations on cartons,

unirso stares rarest cl rics,

JAMES C. THOIVI, E CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO COIVIBENATION MACHINE COM- PANY, OF NEW] YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF DELAW'ARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented An 9, 1921..

Application filed December 27, 1920. Serial No. 433,284.

T0 (7 whom it may concern Be it known that- 1, JAMES C. THOM, a citizen ot the United States. and resident of Chicago, in the county oi Cook and State of lllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for ltlarking Articles, of which the following a specification.

My invention relates to a method and apparatus for marking articles and more particularly to a method and apparatus for and has special reference to a method and apparatus of the nature referred to, in which filled cartons which are handled in row for nations prcpa utory to being packed are marked on their bottoms with reading matte while the row formations of the articles are maintained for subsequent handling.

in the sale o't cartons filled with a contents such as snuff, it is necessary to sell the carton and its contents within a certain time after manufacture by reason of the tact that the snnil deteriorates with it is therefore desirable to designate in some manner on the package or carton a date of manufacture oi? the contents in order to informmerchants and the public of the age of the article sold or bought.

Tomark such designation on each package individually is a relatively expensive operat' and is a slow process where quantity proztluction is requisite. These cartons, which consist generally of a cylindrical fiber body having a fiber cap on one end anda m tal cap on the other end, are handled in rows for quantity production after being il with the snail d are packed in rows,

filler each row containing, for example, eight cartons. I

.lt nas been found desirable to mark the -artons on their fiber bottoms and in the inr ct st o't etticient production to so mark them that the row torn'iations of the cartons may maintained throughout the handling of the carton: from the step of filling the carton with its contents to the step ct packing the cartons .1 row formation.

The principal objects of my invention therefore involve, in addition to the provision of a' method and means for marking ignations of the type referred to on the 'artons handled in row formations, the proision or an apparatus tor operating on selected cartons to expose the same in a novel manner for marking purposes; the provision of a novel marker for marking designations on selected cartons arranged in plural rows; the provision 0t novel means for feeding rows of cartons to the marking means and means for releasing rows of cartons therefrom; the further provision of means for reversing the end cartons of each row after the marking operation to secure a row of cartons with the metal caps on each end of the row; and the further provision of a novel unitary apparatus which feeds, marks and discharges rows of cartons to be delivered for subsequent packing operation.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the elements and their relation one to the other, as

hereinafter particularly described and then sought to be defined in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment oi the invention and in wh1ch- Figure 1 isa side elevational view ot the apparatus with parts shown in section to disclose the interior construct-ion thereof, this view showing selected cartons in elevated position ready for the marking operation,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged similar view of a portion of the same showing the cartons in their return positions in the respective rows,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on the line 3-4;, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4; is a cross sectional view on the line l l, Fi 1,

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing an elevated carton and a marking means cooperating therewith,

Fig. 6 is an isometric view oi a marked carton,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7-7, Fig. 3 showing the operation ot' the end carton' reversing means,

Fig. '8 is an isometric view oia row of cartons with the end carton reversed, the row being ready for the packing operation,

Fig. 9 is a detail view showing the structure of an ejecting plate and Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the manner of selecting the cartons for marking purposes.

Referring to the drawings, the operating parts of the device are supported by a frame work 11, said frame work also providing an inclined hopper 12, to which rows of cartons are fed in any desired manner and from which the rows are delivered'in single file to an inclined operating bed 13 by means of a reciprocating elevator 14. The elevator may be constructed in any desired manner, the preferred form shown in the'drawings comprising a member with a closed side 15 and an inclined top 16, said elevator being movable in the frame work in opposite directions and being guided and retained in the frame work by means of bolts 17 fixed .to the elevator and movable in elongated slots 18 in the frame work, the bolts being provided with washers 19 retained by the frame work and nuts 20, holding the washers in position. The elevator is reciprocated its full length and is shown in Fig. 1 near its uppermost position When the elevator is in its de'scendedposition with the top 16 flush with the inclined hopper 12, a row of cartons will moveby gravity on to the elevator and will be retained between the inclined top thereof and the side wall of frame work 11. The elevator is then moved upwardly, the remaining rows of cartons in the hopper being retained in position by engagement of the first row with the closed end 15 of the elevator; and when the elevator reaches its uppermost position, with the top 16' flush with the plane of the operating bed 13, the elevated row of cartons will move by gravity to meet a plurality of rows of cartons on the bed, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

For'the purpose of reciprocating the elevator, means is provided which preferably consists of a lever 21 fulcrumed 011 any convenient portion of the frame work as at 22; said lever having an arm 23 connected to any convenient portion of the elevator as by means of a link 24, the opposite arm 25 of the lever being provided with a counterweight for purposes of balancing the elevator. This lever 21 is oscillated in any desired manner, the preferred means shown in the drawings comprising a crank arm 26 connected to the lever by a link 27 the crank arm being fixed to a shaft 28 rotatable in suitable bearings fixed to any convenient portion of the frame work, power being supplied to said shaft from any motor means (not shown) through an interposed belt 29 and a pulley 30 fixed to said shaft. As will be evident upon rotation of the pulley in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, the lever will be oscillated and with it the elevator will be moved upwardly and downwardly to accomplish the function of feeding single rows of cartons from the hopper to the operating bed.

The cartons are handled in rows from the step of being filled with the contents to the step ofbeing put up in packages and in this apparatus they are fed row by row to the hopper and discharged row by row by means to be subsequently described. Each. carton consists of a cylindrical body portion and two end cap portions, one cap being preferably made of metal while the body and the other cap are preferably made of fiber. It is desirable to mark the designations on one of the fiber caps. "In order to preserve the continuity of operation in the handling of these cartons in rows and in' order to mark the cap portions of the cartons, it is found desirable to select and mark the cartons in a manner diagrammatically shown in Fig. lO'of the drawings. This figure shows a plurality of rows of cartons, here eight in number, with a plurality of cartons in each row,.here also eight in number and so designated in said figure.

In order to mark a plurality of cartons in one operation and preserve the continuity of operation of the device, certain cartons are selected at any onetime, such cartons being in stepped relation, as shown in full lines in said figure. These cartons are selected and exposed to'a'marking means to be subsequently described in detail and these selected cartons are given their designating characters, after which the cartons are moved back into their respective rows, the

eighth row being thereafter released and the said row one assumes a position in row eight with all the cartons marked on their bottoms, after which the said row of cartons is released for further subsequent handling. It will thus be seen that in this way a plurality of cartons may be marked at one time, the cartons being marked on their fiber bottoms, the principle of operation of the entire machine preserved v and the cartons maintained in the row formations in which they are handled.

Theopera-ting bed 13 supports a plurality of rows for the marking operation, the said bed being fixed to forked uprights 31, the said uprights being mounted in any desired manner on the frame work 11, the said bed.

as shown in FigflO, means is provided which comprises preferably an ejector plate 33 made in the form of a casting, upon which plate is mounted a plurality of sets of rods 3% and 35, each set being adapted to be moved upwardly through the operating bed and engage a single carton from each row and move said carton partly out of its row to expose the bottom of the same for marking purposes. as shown in Figs. 1 and Rod 35 is preferably a cylindrical rod, while rod 34: is a tapered rod, in cooperation these two rods providing a firm support for the cylindrical body portion of the carton. The sets of rods 3% and are mounted in offset or stepped relation on the ejector plate 33, as clearly shown. in Fig. 9 of the drawings. The ejector plate is movable in opposite directions and is guided by plates 36 fitted to the forked ends of the uprights 31.

For the purpose of moving the ejector plate and the ejecting rods upwardly, means is provided which, in the form shown, comprises lugs 37 formed integrally with the ejecting plate and provided with bottom concave portions 38, the lugs being positioned on opposite sides of the ejector plate, the concave portions being engaged by friction rollers 39 mounted on projecting portions 4.0, forming part of the crank arms 4.1 fixed to shafts 42, as clearly shown in Fig. #1 of the drawings, said shafts being journaled in suitable bearings mounted on the frame work 11, these shafts being provided with sprockets 43, over which is trained a sprocket chain ll. one of the shafts 42 being-also provided with another sprocket 45 receiving motion through a chain 46 from a sprocket 47 fixed to the operating shaft 28.

As will be apparent. upon rotation of the operating shaft 23 the friction rollers on the crank arms 41 engage the concave portions of lugs and move the ejector plate upwardly, the ejecting rods entering throu 'h the apertures in the operating bet and elevating the selected cartons, the downward motion of the ejector plate being effected by gravity. It will be noted that the ejector plate and the elevator are operated synchronously from the operating shaftso that the ejector plate and the elevator simultaneously move upwardly and simultaneously move downwardly; thus as the selected cartons are removed out of their row formations for marking purposes, a new row of cartons is ele vated and added to the plurality of rows on the operating bed, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. When the cartons are moved to their marking position, each carton is retained in position by means of opposed resilient clips 43. the clips being provided with apertures 49 to permit the insertion of a marking element, to be described hereinafter. These cartonsare moved out of their row formation in order to expose the surface to be marked; but in order to facilitate the return of the carton to the row formations, the cartons are elevated a distance somewhat less than the diameter of the car ton, as shown in 5, thus keeping the ad.- j acent cartons in their proper positions in the row to permit the easy return of the now marked carton.

In order to return the cartons after mark ing to their positions in the row, means is provided which preferably consists of plungers 50 arranged in offset or stepped relation, as shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, said plungers being movable in plates 51 and 52 connected together in any desired manner, as by means 53, the said plates being fixed to any convenient portion of the uprights 31, as shown at 5%. These plungers are provided with adjustable collars 55 and are provided with encircling compression springs 56, one end of each spring being seated on collar 55 and the other end seated against plate 51, these plungers being alined with the sets of the ejecting rods and being movable between the opposed clips 43, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 5 of thedrawings. As will be apparent, in the upward motion of the ejecting rods the selected cartons will move between the clips as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 of the drawings, the cylindrical body portion of the carton engaging the plungers and moving the same upwardly against the compression of springs 56. llpon the downward motion of the ejector plate and the ejecting rods, the return of the cartons to the respective rows is facilitated by the downward movement of the plungers through the action of the compressed springs. Figs. 1 and show the springs under compression with the cartons in elevated position, while Figs. 2 and 3 show the plungers in. their downward positions with the cartons returned to their respective rows.

ll hen the cartons are in elevated position, means is provided for imprinting the designating characters on the selected cartons elevated. .Qhe marking or printing means may be any form known to the a t, the preferred embodiment heing shown in the drawings and consists of a support 57 for a plurality of marking elements .ar ranged in offset or stopped relation; said support being held releasably on a cross bar 58 connecting the two uprights 31 by means of rods 59 connected to the support 57 and provided with hooked ends 60 mounted on the cross bar 58. This support is provided with. a plurality of marking elements arranged in stepped relation and correspond ing to the stepped relation of the selected cartons, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings one of the marking elements being shown in detail in Fig. 5 and consists preferably 02": a cylindricalheating element 61 having embossed lettering 62, the said heating elecarton, the surface of the carton will be' supplied through pipe 65 which is provided with a plurality of offset orifices 66, the pipe being connected to a gas supply in any desired manner. As will be apparent when the heating elements 61 are brought into contact with the exposed fiber bottom of the seared or burned by the embossed heating characters on the element 61, thus suitably marking the bottom cap of the carton. After a carton is marked'the heating element is removed therefrom and the carton returned to its position in its respective row.

For the-purpose ofmoving the heated elements into an inoperative relation with respect to the-exposed cartons, means is pro vided which preferably consists of an arm 67 fixed at one end to the support 57 and provided at the other end with friction roller 68, engaging a cam 69 mounted on one'of the shafts 42. The heating elements and the support 57 in which they are mount ed are movable about the cross rod 58, as shown clearly in F 4- of the drawings,

the weight of these elements permitting their'motion about cross rod 58 into op- 'erative engagement with the cartons for searing purposes, an inset portion of cam 60 shown in Fig. 4r permitting this motion for the soaring operation. After the cartons have been marked and in the continued rotation of shaft $2, the offset portion of cam 69 engages the friction roller 68 and moves the heating elements out of contact with the cartons after which in the continued rotation 10f shaft 42 the downward motion of the ejector plate permits the return of the cartons to their original positions in the rows.

After the cartons have been returned to their positions in the rows, it is now necessary to release the last or fully marked row to permit motion of the other rows in their next adjacent position and to permit a newly added row ,to'take its place as the now first row. For the purpose of thus releasing the rows and controlling the rows, means is provided which preferably consists of a gate 70 connected by means of arms 71 to spaced rods 72, connected in turn to a U-shaped member 73, which is connected to the ejector plate 33 in any desired manner to move therewith.

h s will be apparent during the upward motion of the ejector plate, gate 70 moves upwardly as shown in Fig. 1, releasing the last row of marked cartons, as also shown clearly in Fig. 1.

in order to prevent any but the last row of cartons to be released, stop means is proshown clearly in Fig. 2. This stop meansis connected to the ejecting plate 33 in a manner to be described hereinafter and moves upwardly therewith. As will be apparent in the upward motion of the. ejector plate and the gate, when the last row of cartons is released, the retaining member 74:

engages the next to the last row of cartons and holds the same and the subsequent rows from further movement. In the downward movement of ejector plate 33 and the gate 70 the retaining means 74 moves into inoperative position'out of. engagement of the cartons, permitting the remaining rows of cartons and the row whlch was added, when the elevator was in its ascended position to stop means 74 in operative position in eI1-,

gagement with the rows of cartons until such a time as all the cartons are back in row formation, such means comprising preferably the mounting of the retaining means 74 on spaced'bars (5 connected to a cross bar 1 6, which in turn is pivoted in bearings on the ejecting plate- 33, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing 1 Cooperating with this pivoted stop means is a bell crank lever '77 fulcrumedat 78 to any convenient portion of the frame work, the said lever being actuated by a tension sping 79 connected to oneyarm thereof, the other arm of the said lever being provided with a shoulder 80 adapted to engage an 01T- set portion of the stop means 74 as shown-in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It will be apparent that as'the ejecting plate moves upwardly the pivoted stop means moves upwardly therewith andengages the next tothe last row of cartons; and when in 82 formed onthe bell crank lever, moving the lever into full lined position, as shown in Fig. 2,.permitting the stop means to drop to inoperative position and now permitting the rows of cartons to move down the width of a row and to be held by means of the gate 70. v

In the marking of the bottoms of the cartons all the cartons in a row are necessarily arranged with thier bottom portions all facing in one direction. In order to secure a more efficient row for packing purposes, it is desirable that the metallic caps be positioned on both ends of a row. It therefore becomes necessary to reverse the position of the end carton in each row so that its fiber bottom is adjacent the fiber bottom of the next adjacent carton and so that its metal cap is positioned on the outside of the row, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

For the purpose of reversing the position of the end carton, means is provided which is made unitary and cooperates functionally with the marking means described. The rows of cartons, after being released by the gate 70, move downwardly into a guide means 83, being preferably an extension of the operating bed 13; and while on this guide means the end carton of each row is reversed in position by any appropriate means, the preferred form shown in the drawings comprising an ejecting member 84 fixed to or mounted on the ejecting plate 33 as by being connected to the U-shaped member 73. During the upward motion of ejector plate 33 the ejecting member 84 engages an end carton, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the end carton being guided and rotated by the curved resilient guiding means 85, which rotates the carton about the vertical guide 86 and into a chute 87, the end carton moving downwardly in the chute and being guided thereby to meet either an advanced. row of cartons or its own row, as is desired. In this manner a row of cartons is obtained having the characteristics described and as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawmgs.

For the purpose of disharging the cartons row by row, means is provided which consists of a turret 88 provided with sockets 89 and situated adjacent one end of the guide 83. As will be apparent when the turret rotates; and a socket therof is positioned flush with the guide, a row of cartons will move by gravity into the turret and carried away thereby for subsequent. packing oper- 'ation.

In operation, rows" of cartons arefed in any desired manner into thehopper 12' and are delivered therefrom to the operatingbedmotion of the ejecting means and the elevator moves the releasing gate into in-' operative position, permitting the releasing of a row of cartons, the remaining rows being retained in position by the operation of the stop means 7 4. It will thus be seen that a row is released at the time when a new row is added to the plurality of rows on the operating bed. In the downward motion of the ejector and the elevator the selected cartons which have been marked when the parts are in ascended position are returned to the operating bed, the stop means 7 4 being then operated to move out of contact with the engaged rows of cartons, the remaining rows and the added row being then moved by gravity until stopped by the now descended gate means 70. At this time the socket 89 of the turret is in position for the movement of a row of cartons into the turret and the.

movement of the released row of cartons into position for being operated upon by the end reversing means. In the next upward movement of the ejector plate a new row of cartons is added to the rows on the bed, a'fully marked row is released and a row of cartons is operated upon to reverse the end carton thereof. At the end of each upward movement the marking means is brought into engagement with the exposed surface of the cartons for the searing thereof, the marking means having the marking elements arranged in stepped relation described so that a plurality of cartons may be'simultaneously marked, the cartons retained in row formations and the operating principle of the machine whereby single rows of cartons are intermittently fed and discharged is preserved.

While I have shown my device in the preferred form, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made in the structure thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention, defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. The method of marking articles handled in row formations which consists in first selecting one article of the row while maintaining the row formation and marking such article, and then successively selecting and marking the remaining articles in the row; the articles presenting the same. row formation before,- during and after the marking operations. I

2. The method of marking articles handled in row formations, the articles presenting a plurality of transverse and longitudinal rows, which consists in first marking a" plurality of articles, one article in each row, the articles marked being arranged in stepped relation, and then successively shifting the rows of articles to present newly exposed articles for marking and successively marking relation whereby a plurality of rows of articles may be marked without altering the row formations of said articles.

8. The step in the method of marking artithe rows in similar stepped cles handled in row formation, the articles ously marking a plurality of articles, one in each row, the articles simultaneously marked being arranged in stepped relation.

4. The method of handling cartons in row formation, which consists in arranging thecartons in a plurality of consecutive rows, selecting a carton from each row, the cartons selected being in stepped relation and marking such cartons simultaneously, then performing the cycle of operation which consists in removing the first. transverse: row, adding'a new transverse row ad jacent the last row of cartons and repeating the marking operation and then repeating" this cycle of operation whereby a plurality of rows of cartons will be marked without altering the row formations of the said cartons. V

5. The method of handling cartons in row formation, which. consists in arranging the cartons m a plurallty of COIISGCIllZlVG rows,

selecting a carton from each row, the cartons selected being in stepped relation and marking such cartons simultaneously, then 'performing' the cycle of operation which consists in removing the first transverse row,

adding a new transverse row adjacent the last row of cartons, reversing the position of the last carton of the row removed and repeating'the marking operation and then repeating this cycle of operation whereby all the .cartons will be marked and arranged ready for packing. 1: j

6. Themethod of handling cartons in row formation, the cartons having non-breakable, i tops, which consists in arranging the cartons '40 with their bottoms all facing in one. direc; tion, exposing the cartons so arranged and marking'the bottoms thereof and then reversing the'position of the end carton so gthat its bottom is adjacent. the bottom ot the next adjacent carton, whereby a row of marked cartons ready for packing is obtained,

7. An apparatus for marking articles han meansarranged in stepped relation for select ngan article from each row to expose the same for mark ng and means correspondingly arranged in stepped relation for selected articles to marking position.

9. In -anapparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, means.

forsselecting a plurality of articles, one from each row, for exposing the articles to .8.In an apparatus for marking articles.

a 'fmarker plate with ejecting means thereon arranged in stepped relation for moving said selected articles to marking position.

10. An apparatus formarking articles handled in plural row formations comprising means for simultaneously marking a plurality of artlcles, one from each rowp said means including marking elements arranged in stepped rela tlon.

1-1; An apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, com

for said elements adapted to" be releasably said means including an ejector expose'the samefor marking, means'corre V spondingly arranged in stepped relation for marking the selected articles and provisions for returning the selected and marked articles to their original positions in the respective rows.'

l3. An apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, compr s ng means arranged lnstepped relation for selectlngan Sti'tlClQ from each row to expose the same for marking, means correspondingly arranged in stepped relation for marking the. selector articl and provisions also arranged incorrespondingly stepped relation for returning the selected and marked articles to their original positions.

in the respective rows.

1- An apparatusi for marking articles handled in plural row formations, compris ing ejeoting means arranged in stepped reelation for-selectively ejectinga plurality of articles, one from each-row, to expose the same for marking, marking means similarly arranged in stepped relation for marking the exposed art cles and meansfor returning the marked articles to, their ori inal. positions.-v

'in the rows, comprising 7 spii'ingjpressed ,dled in plural row formation, compris1ngplungersalso arranged in stepped relation and. alined w thsa' d e ecting means.

15.111 an'iappa atus for marking artiolesf handled in qplural row ,formations, fineans for returning the articles to their row formationsafter marking;- said means. including provisions arranged in stepped relationfor,

engaging and returning the said marked articles to their original positions.

'16. In an apparatus fonmarking articles handled in plural; rowv formations, means for.

returning the articles to their rowformations after marking; said means including spring pressed plungers arranged in stepped.

relation for.engagingandreturning the said marked artioles to. their: original positions 17. In an apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, means for successively positioning a row of articles in consecutive positions and means for marking an article of the row when in each of the said consecutivepositions; such means comprising marking elements arranged in stepped relation, whereby an entire row of articles may be marked after movement through plural positions while retaining the row formations of the articles.

18. In an apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, a support for holding a plurality of rows of said articles, means for marking a plurality of articles, one from each row; said means including marking elements arranged in stepped relation and provisions for adding a new row, removing a marked row and shifting the remaining rows one step.

19. In an apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, a sup port for holding a plurality of rows of said articles, means for marking a plurality of articles, one from each row; said means in-- cluding marking elements arranged in stepped relation, provisions for adding a new row, removing a markee row and shifting the remaining rows and means for alternately operating the marking means and the said provisions.

20. In an apparatus for marking ar icles handled in plural row formations, a support for holding a plurality of rows of said articles, means arranged in stepped relation for selecting an article from each row to expose the same for marking, means correspondingly arranged in stepped relation for marking the selected articles and provisions for adding a new row, removing a marked row and shifting the remaining rows.

21. In an apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, a support for holding a plurality of rows of said articles, means arranged in stepped relation for selecting an article from each row to expose the same for marking, means correspondingly arranged in stepped relation for marking the selected articles, provisions for adding a new row, removing a marked rowand shifting the remaining rows and means for synchronously operating the Fe lecting means, the marking means and the said provisions.

22. In an apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, means for successively positioning a row of articles in consecutive positions, means arranged in stepped relation for selecting an article from the row to expose the same for marking when in each of the consecutive positions and means for marking an article of the rowwhen in each of the said consecutive positions; such latter means comprising marking elements arranged in stepped rela-' tion, whereby an entire row of articles may be marked after movement through plural positions while retaining the row formations of the articles.

23. In an apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, an inclined support for holding a plurality of rows of the articles, gate means for nor-ma lly preventing movement of the articles on said support, a hopper for holding a plurality of rows of the said. articles. an elevator for de livering the row of articles from the hopper to the support, stop means adapted to be inserted between the first two rows of articles on the said support ano means for operating the gate means, the elevator and the stop means whereby one row of articles is released from the plural rows on the support. while a new row is added thereto.

2%. In an apparatus for marking articles handled in plural row formations, an in clined support for holding a plurality of rows of the articles, gate. means for normally preventing movement of the articles on the said support, a hopper for holding a plurality of rows of the said articles, an elevator for delivering a row of articles from the hopper to the support, stop means adapted to be inserted betwen the first two rows of articles on the said support, means arranged in stepped relation for marking the articles on the said support and means for synchronously operating the gate means, elevator, the stop means and the said marking means. i

In an apparatus for marking articles ndlcd in plural row formations, a supt for holding a plurality of rows of said .iclcs. means arranged in stepped relation selecting an article from each row to c;pose the same for marking, means correspondingly arranged in stepped relation for marking the selected articles, means for returning the mar {ed articles to their original positions in the respective rows and provisions for adding a new row, removing a marked row and shifting the remaining rows.

26. The combination recited in claim 25, in which the. means for returning the marked articles comprises spring pressed plungers alined with said selecting means.

In an apparatus for marking articles handled in plural 'row formations, a movable ejecting means for moving selected articles from a support holding a plurality of rows of the articles, a gate means. for releasahly holding the end row of articles mounted to move with the ejecting means, retaining means adapted to move between the first two rows of articles and movable with the ejecting means and provisions for reversing the position of an article at the end of a row; said provision including an operating element movable with said ejecting means.

' 28. The combination recited in claim 27,in.-

which the gate means,'the retaining means and the operating element are mounted on the ejecting means. Y h

29. In an apparatus for marking article's handled in plural row formations, means for supporting a plurality of rows of the articles, means for simultaneously marking a plurality of articles, one fromeach row,

cles, means for simultaneously marking a plurality of articles, one from each row and means for releasing a marked row and adding a new row.

31. In an apparatus for marking cartons handled in plural row formations, said cartons having non-breakable tops, a support for holding a row of cartons with their bottoms all facing in one direction and means for reversing the'position of the end carton so that its bottom is adjacent the bottom of the next adjacent carton, whereby a row of marked cartons ready for packing is obtained.

32. In an apparatus for marking cartons handled in plural row formations, said cartons havingnon-breakable tops, a support for holding a row of cartons with their bottoms all facing in one direction and means for reversing the position of the end carton so that its bottom is adjacent the bottom of the nextvadjacent carton; said means comprising an ejecting member for removing the end carton out of its row and guiding means for rotating the said carton and returning it to its row, whereby a row of marked cartons ready for packing is obtamed.

83. In an apparatus for handling cartons, a support for holding a plurality of rows of cartons, means forfeeding the rowsmeans for reversing the position of the end carton in each row and a turret for removing rows of cartons from said guiding means. 7

84. In an apparatus for handling cartons with non-breakable tops, a guide for receiving a plurality of rows of cartons with their bottoms facing in one direction, means with their bottoms facing in'one direction,

means at one end of .the guide for reversing the positon of the end carton so that the nonbreakable tops are positioned atboth ends of a row of cartons and a turretat the other end of the guide for removing a row of cartons from ing.

Signed and State of Illinois, this 17th day of December, A. D. 1920. a i

the guide for subsequent pack- 75, at Chicago, in the county of Cook JAMES o. THOM. 1 I 

